Periodically operated aerosol dispenser



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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 269,600 PERIODICALLY OPERATED AEROSOL DISPENSER Robert L. Weber III, New Canaan, C0nn., assignor to Time-Mist Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 398,916 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) This invention relates generally to fluid spraying apparatus and more particularly to mot-or driven devices for the periodic and automatic dispensing of pressurized material from containers such as aerosol cans.

For many years aerosol containers with manually actuated valves have been used for discharging 'fine sprays of atomized liquids into the atmosphere. Such containers or cans contain aerosols in which the fluid to be dispensed is in association with a liquified gas. In the can is a spring closed valve with an upwardly projecting discharge stem carrying .a spray nozzle in the form of a fingerpiece or button, the depression of which opens the valve to effect the dispensing of the active ingredient and the carrier in the form of a fine mist. The valve mechanism may be such that the spray is continuously discharged as long as the nozzle is held depressed, or it may be of the metering type in which the depression of the nozzle causes a single burst of spray. In recent years there have been marketed devices for automatically operating the nozzles of such aerosol cans at timed intervals such as one, five, fifteen or more minutes. Such automatic actuators have used slow speed electric motor units to periodically operate some form of mechanism that engages the valve nozzle or button fixed to the top of the tubular discharge stern of the valve mechanism.

The active ingredients in the sprays from such aerosol containers may be of various kinds such as an insecticide to control flying insects in homes, eating places, food stores and greenhouses, an air purifier to sanitize and deodorize the air in hospitals, food stores, restaurants and kennels, and a chemical to produce a fragrant odor such as evergreen, spice, chocolate, or hickory smoke useable in retail stores, specialty shops and food stores to aid in selling various products.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic spraying mechanism in which a can of pressurized active ingredient is held in a frame so that a motor driven means can periodically actuate the valve mechanism of the pressurized can.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism in which a connector is provided that is attachable to the pressurized can and which is removably attached to a plate by a turning motion of the connector.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism in which the connector is provided with bayonet connecting means.

In one aspect of the invention, a horizontal plate may be connected to a vertical plate forming a frame adapted to be attached to a wall. The horizontal plate may include an opening therethrough for the reception of a valve housing on the top of an aerosol can or the like.

Aerosol cans are usually constructed with a top portion that is closed by a recessed cap, the outer edge of which is spun over together with the top edge of the can. Usually the recessed cap includes a central, upstanding, cylindrical portion, providing an annular space between it and a re-entrant angular portion of the outer wall of the recessed cap. The upstanding central housing encloses conventional valve mechanism that communicates 'with the interior of the can, and a valve stem extends upwardly beyond the central upstanding housing.

3,269,600 Patented August 30, 1966 In another aspect of the invention, the horizontal plate may include a hole extending therethrough adapted to receive the upstanding valve housing and valve stem. There may be a plurality of separate openings through said horizontal plate on a circle concentric with the hole that receives the valve housing.

In another aspect of the invention, a connector may be removably attached to the cap of the aerosol can. It may comprise a body portion having a dependent skirt portion that has axial slots cut therein so that it can be expanded outwardly to provide a spring clip arrangement adapted to engage the re-entrant angular portion of the cap of the aerosol can. The top of the body may include angularly spaced means adapted to pass through the spaced openings in the horizontal plate so that when they extend through said openings, a turning action of the can and connector will securely fasten the can to the horizontal plate by a bayonet-type connection.

In still another aspect of the invention, motorized means may be provided for periodically actuating the valve stem of the aerosol can for dispensing predetermined amounts of active ingredient.

The above, other objects and novel features of the improved pressurized can supporting means and actuating means therefor will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing which are merely exemplary.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of appar-atus to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the connect-or shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view along line 66 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to apparatus including a vertical plate 10. A horizontal plate 11 is fixed to plate 10 and it may include a hole 12 therethrough adapted to receive a valve housing 13 of an aerosol can 14. The plate 11 may also include a plurality of openings 15 that extend through plate 11, said openings being arranged on a circle concentric with hole 12. The openings 15 may be of keyhole form including circular portions 16 and narrow portions 17. The portions 17 all are directed in the same direction, i.e., clockwise about the hole 12.

, The can 14 of pressurized ingredient may be cylindrical in form having a closed bottom 18 and a frusto-conical upper portion 19. The top portion of can 14 terminates in an edge 20 that is rolled or spun together with the outer periphery 21 of a closure cap 22. Cap 22 may include a re-entrant angular portion 23 and the central upstanding housing portion 13. The housing portion 13 is adapted to contain the usual valve mechanism of such cans ineluding a stem 24 that slidingly extends outwardly from the top of housing of housing 13.

A connector 25 may comprise a main body portion 26 having a depending skirt portion 27. This skirt may be provided with axial slots 28 so that the skirt can be compressed to form an expanded shoulder 29. The top of the main body portion 26 may include angularly spaced, headed protuberances 30. The expanded skirt 27 is adapted to be snapped into the top of the can 14 so that portion 29 thereof is received within the re-entrant angular portion 23 of cap 22. The assembly is then moved upwardly beneath plate 11 so that the headed protuberances 30 pass through the circular portions 16 of passages 15. Then by turning the can 14 and connector 26 clockwise, the necks of the headed portions slide into slots 17, holding can 14 to plate 11 by a bayonet-type connection.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the top of body portion 26 .of the connector is shown as including angularly spaced ears 31 having channeled peripheral portions 32. The plate 11 includes recessed slots 33 angularly arranged about hole 12 and adapted to receive ears 31 on body portion 26. In assembling can 14 and connector 25 to the plate 11, the connector and can are raised upwardly beneath plate 11 so that cars 31 pass halfway through recessed slots 33. Then, when can 14 and connector 25 are turned in either direction, the channels 32 will receive the edge of plate 11 between recessed slots 33 in order to lock the can 14 to plate 11.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in order periodically to actuate valve stem 24, a motorized means 34 may be provided. It is shown schematically and may be mounted on plates 10, 11, or in any other suitable manner. Means 34 may comprise a motor 35 that is connected by a conventional one-revolution clutch 36 to a cam shaft 37. A cam 38 may be fixed to shaft 37 so that it acts on valve stem 24 to dispense a predetermined quantity of the contents of can 14 each time it makes one revolution. By means well known in the art, motor 35 can be periodically energized to cause a single revolution of cam 38.

Although the various features of the improved mechanism have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose two embodiments of the invention, it will be evident that change may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention. For example, the expanded skirt portion 27 of the connector 25 may be eliminated, and threads may be provided on the outer wall of the connector for cooperation with threads on the inner wall of the cup-shaped cap 22.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-entrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding housing at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said housing; a bracket having a hole therethrough and passage means therethrough arranged angularly about said hole; a connector for attaching said container to said bracket, said connector having a body portion; expanded skirt means at the bottom of said body portion for engaging the top of said container; means at the top of said body portion adapted to cooperate with said angularly related passage means and engage the same for holding said container to said bracket; and periodically energized means for operating said valve actuating means.

2. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-entrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding housing at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said housing; a bracket having a hole therethrough and key-shaped passage means therethrough arranged angularly about said hole; a connector for attaching said container to said bracket, said connector having a body portion; expanded skirt means at the bottom of said body portion for engaging the top of said container; and headed means at the top of said body portion adapted to cooperate with said angularly related passage means for holding said container to said bracket.

3. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-entrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding housing at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said housing; a bracket having a hole therethrough and recessed slot means arranged angularly about said hole; a connector for attaching said container to said bracket, said connector having a body portion; means at the bottom of said body portion for engaging the top of said container; and ear means having channeled peripheral edges at the top of said body portion adapted to cooperate with said angularly related recessed means for holding said container to said bracket.

4. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-e-ntrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding housing at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said housing; a bracket having a hole therethrough and key-shaped passage means therethrough arranged angularly about said hole; a connector for attaching said container to said bracket, said connector having a body portion; expanded skirt means at the bottom of said body portion for engaging the top of said container; headed means at the top of said body portion adapted to cooperate with said angularly related passage means for holding said container to said bracket; and periodically energized means for operating said valve actuating means.

5. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-entirant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding housing at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said housing; a bracket having a hole therethrough and recessed slot means arranged angularly about said hole; a connector for attaching said container to said bracket, said connector having a body portion; means at the bottom of said body portion for engaging the top of said container; ear means having channeled peripheral edges at the top of said 'body portion adapted to cooperate with said angularly related recessed means for holding said container to said bracket; and periodically energized means for operating said valve actuating means.

6. A connector for attaching a pressurized container to a bracket comprisinng, in combination, a main body portion; skirt means extending from one end of said body portion, said skirt means having spaced axial slots therein forming a plurality of tongues said tongues being bent outwardly and then inwardly so as to form a peripheral section of greater diameter than where they join said main body portion, whereby said skirt means can be expanded to form a resilient shoulder means; and means on the top of said body portion for cooperating with angularly spaced openings in a bracket to attach said connector to said bracket.

7. A connector for attaching a pressurized container to a bracket comprising, in combination, a main body portion; skirt means extending from one end of said body portion, said skirt means having spaced axial slots therein forming a plurality of tongues, said tongues being bent outwardly and then inwardly so as to form a peripheral section of greater diameter than where they join said main body portion, whereby said skirt means can be expanded to form a resilient shoulder means; and headed means on the top of said main body portion for cooperating with keyholes angularly related about a circle on a bracket.

8. A connector for attaching a pressurized container to a bracket comprising in combination, a main body portion; skirt means extending from one end of said body portion, said skirt means having spaced axial slots therein forming a plurality of tongues, said tongues being bent outwardly'and then inwardly so as to form a peripheral section of greater diameter than where they join said main body portion, whereby said skirt means can be expanded to form a resilient shoulder means; and ear elements 5 6 about the top of said main body portion having chan- 2,971,382 2/1961 Harris 23970X neled peripheral edges. 3,183,297 5/1965 Curtiss 285162 X FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 5 931,342 8/ 1955 Germany.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 7 0 495 2 1957 Brown 85 36 X M. HENSON WOOD, J Primary xam 2,860,820 11/ 1958 Falligant 222394 X CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, AN AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A CUPSHAPED TOP INCLUDNG A RE-ENTRANT ANGULAR PORTION FORMING AN ANNULAR SHOULDER, SAID CUP-SHAPED TOP HAVING AN UPSTANDING HOUSING AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTER THEREOF WHICH LATTER COMMUNICATES WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER; VALVE ACTUATING MEANS IN SAID HOUSING; A BRACKET HAVING A HOLE THERETHROUGH AND PASSAGE MEANS THERETHROUGH ARRANGED ANGULARLY ABOUT SAID HOLE; A CONNECTOR FOR ATTACHING SAID CONTAINER TO SAID BRACKET, SAID CONNECTOR HAVING A BODY PORTION; EXPANDED SKIRT MEANS AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID BODY PORTION FOR ENGAGING THE TOP OF SAID 